A30243:2674
Spiritual refining
Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.
London: printed by A. Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A TREATISE OF GRACE and ASSURANCE; Being CXX. SERMONS. › Section 12 › Sermon 107
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First therefore, We read of godly Governors, godly rich men, godly noble 1men, not only in the Old Testament, for that is very evident, but in the New, as Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, the two Centurions, Paulus a Proconsul, Theophilus a noble man, to whom Luke dedicated his History, as most judge, and John writes to the elect Lady: so that the Apostle doth not say, None of these, But not many, viz, Comparatively to those of the meaner sort that are called: Indeed, of the twelve Apostles, there was not one of them wise after the flesh, or mighty and noble; for that is a Fabulous tradition concerning Bartholomew, that he was born of Royal blood, and went in his purple and jewels every day; the Evangelists imply the contrary.
First therefore, We read of godly Governors, godly rich men, godly noble 1men, not onely in the Old Testament, for that is very evident, but in the New, as Ioseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, the two Centurions, Paulus a Proconsul, Theophilus a noble man, to whom Luke dedicated his History, as most judge, and Iohn writes to the elect Lady: so that the Apostle doth not say, None of these, But not many, viz, Comparatively to those of the meaner sort that are called: Indeed, of the twelve Apostles, there was not one of them wise after the flesh, or mighty and noble; for that is a Fabulous tradition concerning Barthol•mew, that he was born of Royal blood, and went in his purple and jewels every day; the Evangelists imply the contrary.
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Secondly, It must also be confessed, That the outward good things of this life, 1are so far from being contradictory to godliness, that godliness only hath the promise of them: How often did God promise Israel, That if they would diligently keep his Commandments, They should conquer their enemies, One should chase a thousand, They should be the head, and not the tail; and Abraham, in that great promise God made to him, there was not only promised a numerous posterity, like the sands of the sea shore; but also, that Kings and Princes should come out of his loins; and thus it holds for other worldly comforts. Godliness hath the promise of this life; and the Apostle makes an unanswerable argument, If he hath given us Christ, how shall he not with him give us all things else: Thus we cannot instance in any temporal good thing, but in one place or other there is a promise made of it to the godly. And if you say,